I have noticed a trend in the wood and faux wood blind product offering that I thought you might find fascinating. Within the last couple years, multifamily housing starts have driven the new home statistics. The single family home seems to be ebbing, as costs and/or location are unacceptable to many younger home buyers. Because of this, high density condos, lofts and apartments are springing up in desirable locations, while larger homes with a long commute are reserved for retirees and those with a many kids.

So how has this housing trend affected the wood and faux wood blind business. Well, we are seeing more of these high density projects rejecting the old vertical blind application in favor of a wood or faux wood blind choice. This is driven by falling prices for wood and faux wood blinds, via decent quality Chinese imports, coupled by a real design trend away from vertical blinds. You would probably be surprised at how many people tell us that the actually HATE vertical blinds. That's right, we hear person after person say they hate vertical blinds. That is not to say that people still don't opt for verticals on their sliders - but only to save money - not because they want them.

This HATRED of vertical blinds has caused a rather significant shift away from the affordable vertical blind and toward the affordable wood and faux wood blind. So, if you are a project manager, architect or designer for a large multifamily housing build - you might consider what the word on the street is regarding vertical blinds vs wood or faux wood blinds. Also, if you are a consumer of this type of housing option, this is something else to consider, as you choose your home - do you want the window covering more and more people HATE? Or do you want the simple, affordable alternative - wood or faux wood blinds?